Kagame is a shining example for African leaders to follow

There are times when we have no choice but to admire President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. The Rwandan president is a man to admire for a number of reasons.

The first one is his trailblazing nature. As his two decades in power have shown, he is a man of many firsts.

He has, to start with, provided us with a model of a very sober and focused leadership in the region and on the continent, especially when he recently led the AU as its chairman, where he left a landmark.

Recently, President Kagame  was asked why he has so far not appointed a successor who will take over from him in 2024 when his third term comes to an end.

He bluntly retorted that he would not do that and that the person who succeeds him has to earn the position.

This is unlike many African leaders who manipulate the future of their countries by imposing pliable successors.

Kagame’s example is great in a continent where succession politics sometimes turns violent.

Nearer him in Kenya, the succession battle for 2022 is almost degenerating to a fist fight. Kagame says the most important thing for him is not to look around and anoint somebody but to let people who are capable emerge.

He says Rwanda has heavily invested in education and has a pool from where a capable leader chosen by Rwandans will emerge to succeed him.

That is wisdom, which is lacking in most parts of Africa. 

Hoping that he will remain true to his word and maintain the picture of a shining star who the people will keep on electing because they cannot find somebody as good or better than, we have to credit him for his great leadership.

Rwanda is one country that has, in the true sense of the word, risen from the ashes like the proverbial Phoenix.

And it would be foolhardy to ignite the follies of succession politics when a lot still remains to be done.

That said, the Rwanda president should strive to nurture democracy and not remain in the limelight forever, as many leaders on the continent have been tempted to do. No man is an island and his departure, if not well prepared and managed, might see the country hurtling into the pit it once was in.

History has a habit of repeating itself and President Kagame, who will have been in power for 24 years by the time he leaves office should ensure his succession is smooth and well spearheaded by the people themselves.